Steve Bruce admits he regrets the way he left Manchester United in 1996 and actually thinks Sir Alex Ferguson did things right.
Bruce was a fantastic servant to United for almost a decade, making over 400 appearances and winning several trophies, including the first Premier League trophy after the breakaway from the First Division.
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However, he left the club just days after being left out of the 1996 FA Cup final which beat Liverpool 1-0.
His exit was always controversial and Roy Keane, who went on to manage the club, admitted he didn’t like the way Ferguson treated Bruce and Bryan Robson.
Speaking to Off The Ball, Keane said: “I was at the club when Bryan Robson left, I was at the club when Steve Bruce left, two brilliant servants of Man United and I didn’t like the way which they were dealt with at the end. .
“People talk about Ferguson’s man management, don’t let that fool you.
“Ferguson came out afterwards and said he always did what was best for Manchester United – that’s absurd!”
Bruce, who was signed by Ferguson from Norwich in 1987, harbors no ill will towards his former boss and has spoken of his regrets.
He told talkSPORT during an appearance on White and Jordan: “The only regret of my whole time was leaving Man United, I left a little bit upset because I wasn’t picked for the final of the cut.
“It was Sir Alex’s way of getting me out. Looking back on it now, I hated it at the time but I totally understand it.
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“I was 36, I wasn’t injured and I didn’t get back into the team for the cup when I thought I should have. I left after two or three days, but I can now understand everything from a distance.
“I didn’t want to sit on the bench or be part of the team anymore. I made this very clear to the manager himself. I left after two or three days and left under a cloud.
“My contract was up, but it made me come to grips with the fact that I hadn’t played in the 1996 Cup final. Man United won 1-0 and Eric Cantona scored in the last minute, no one cares if I play it. Man United won.
“The manager made the right choice and did the same thing with Bryan Robson a few years before. It was his way of gently telling you that your time was up.
He added: “The way the game has evolved, maybe I should have become a team player. I was 36 years old and still captain.
“It was difficult for me to understand. I thought I was playing week in and week out and here’s a game I’m not involved in that’s going to mean something to me.
“I don’t think I could take it personally about not being involved. When the big games come, I wanted to be involved.
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“He only left me out once every 10 years and that’s when we were playing Barcelona at home. I asked him about that too, and he played me in replay I made the difference as we lost 4-0.
Bruce still remembers his time at Man United fondly and is still in contact with Ferguson.
He added: “I went there [football] for 40 years, including 10 at Manchester United. It hits you, it’s such an iconic football club.
“Being part of it, playing over 400 games and winning a few trophies along the way, that was the highlight.
“With Sir Alex, I still have conversations with him. I haven’t seen him in a while, he was everywhere.
“I can always phone him, especially when I was in management. He was instrumental in my decision to take a job and was always someone you could call.
After his nine-year career ended, Bruce joined Birmingham, arriving as a defender who had won three FA Cups, three Premier League titles, the League Cup, the Cup Winners’ Cup and the Super Cup.
He joined Sheffield United in 1998 and later managed the Blades before returning to Birmingham in 2001 as manager where he remained until 2007.
His most recent job was at West Brom, having also taken charge of Sunderland, Wigan, Hull, Aston Villa and Newcastle.
